I am considering purchasing the new GTO, but was wondering how it is as a daily driver, and how is it in bad weather? I would have to drive it throughout the winter, although in nyc our winters arent horrible. Has anyone ever driven it in snow? Do you think it is a good idea or bad? I will drive this bad boy every day for like ten years if i buy it lol
The GTO is an excellent daily driver. I'm in central PA and also drive mine year round on a 45 mile 1 way commute every day. That's about 20,000 miles per year. It is reasonably quiet for a performance car. The ride is a nice combination of good handling and comfort. My mileage with 90% of my commute being highway miles is approx 22-23 mpg with the 6 spd. Not bad for 400HP. The sound system is not the best but OK. The car has been trouble free for the most part.
If you try and drive it in snow or ice with the OEM tires or any summer performance tire, it will be extremely dangerous. I put Bridgestone Blizzak WS50's on mine and it is very well behaved in snow and ice. Winter tire technology has really come a long way in the last ten years. Don't leave home without them!
It would be nice if the GTO had a few more amenities for long hours behind the wheel....Satellite Radio, Bluetooth, Buttwarmers, etc. But, that can be taken care of in the aftermarket.
One warning, if you are going to pile on the miles as a daily driver, think about a clear-bra. I have 30K miles on my 05 and there are about a dozen paints chips on the front end that are all rusting to some degree. Apparently the Aussies or GM in general doesn't do very well with primer or corrosion protection. At any rate, I can envision repainting the front end after 4-5 years.
Good Luck!